Hugo Chavez death reports wrong, says vice-president

Reports of the death of Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan leader, have been greatly exaggerated, according to the country's vice president.

Hugo Chavez is seen in a rare image with his daughters during his cancer treatmentPhoto: Reuters

By Harry Alsop

2:26PM GMT 28 Feb 2013

The claims came as thousands rallied in Caracas to commemorate "Caracazo", the massacre of hundreds of people in 1989, which Mr Chavez sees as the beginning of his socialist revolution.

Mr Chavez has remained out of sight since checking into a military hospital in Caracas eight days ago. He had spent the previous couple of months in Cuba receiving treatment.

Guillermo Cochez earlier this week claimed Mr Chavez had been declared brain-dead on December 31 and had been subsequently disconnected from the machines that kept him alive. He added that he believed Mr Chavez had been brought back to Caracas so that he would not die in Cuba.

"If they think that I am lying, let them prove otherwise, by showing Chavez alive and well," he said.

The claims have been dismissed by Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan vice president, who said Mr Chavez has been running the country from his hospital ward in Caracas.